Snow causes deadly pileup in Indiana: 3 killed, more than 20 injured

A 46-car pileup on a snowy interstate in Indiana has left three people dead. The vehicles – most of them semi trucks – collided while driving in poor weather conditions.

More than 20 people were also injured on Interstate 94, which
connects Chicago and Detroit, as heavy snowfall and low
visibility made for dangerous driving conditions. According to
the Associated Press, a front of lake-effect snow was dropping
between one to two inches every hour during the time of the
multi-car pileup.

"One of the semis started sliding and I think it jackknifed
in the middle of the road" and collided with another semi,
Indiana teenager Scott Collins said after witnessing the crash.
"After that happened, multiple semis locked up...we were
pretty nervous."

One of those killed in the accident was 65-year-old James
Dalrymple of Chicago. The other two were a married couple from
Michigan: Marilyn and Thomas Wolma, 65 and 67 years old,
respectively.

As reported by local ABC affiliate RTV6, Indiana State Police
Sgt. Ann Wojas said that between 20 and 30 people were injured.
They were taken to various local hospitals for treatment, with at
least one individual in critical condition.

While the accident occurred Thursday afternoon, all eastbound
I-94 lanes were still closed Friday morning as cleanup crews
worked to remove the debris.

Frequent bouts of heavy snowfall have slammed the Midwest and
northeastern parts of the United States over the last month. In
addition to canceling thousands of flights and wrecking roads,
the storms have closed schools and businesses, downed power
lines, and brought forth record-low temperatures in many states.

The most recent snowfall prompted Delaware, New Jersey, and New York to
declare state of emergencies, with governors urging their
citizens to avoid travel as much as possible.

Even those traveling on trains have suffered the consequences of
the snowfall, as heavy accumulation stranded three Chicago-bound Amtrak trains
earlier this month. More than 500 passengers spent the night on
trains while waiting for charter buses to come and transfer them
to their destinations.